Compressible tube valve

ABSTRACT

A valve for pressurized fluent material incorporating a safety shield for the operator. A piece of compressible tubing is mounted in a box safety shield which is open on one side. A roller is mounted on an arm which is operated by a handle mounted on the protected side of the safety shield. The roller is positioned slightly off center in the closed position so that it is locked in closed position by pressure within said tubing.

United States Patent Blohm [4 1 Sept. 26, 1972 COMPRESSIBLE TUBE VALVE [72] Inventor: William A. Blohm, 34 Azalea Court,

Plainview, NY. 11803 [22] Filed: Dec. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 96,368

[52] US. Cl ..251/6, 251/9 [51 I Int. Cl ..Fl6k 7/06 [58] Field of Search ..251/4, 6, 9, 10; 137/377;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,354 7/1882 Johnson ..251/9 2,752,068 6/1956 Bryant ..222/529 X 2,869,816 1/1959 Olander 251/6 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,020,250 1 1/1957 Germany ..251/9 928,057 5/1947 France ..251/9 1,358,478 3/1964 France ..251/9 Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard Attorney-James P. Malone l 5 7 I ABSTRACT A valve for pressurized fluent material incorporating a safety shield for the operator. A piece of compressible tubing is mounted in a box safety shield which is open on one side. A roller is mounted on an arm which is operated by a handle mounted on the protected side of the safety shield. The roller is positioned slightly off center in the closed position so that it is locked in closed position by pressure within said tubing.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3.693, 932

sum 1 0F 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. BLOHM PATENTE'Dszrzs m 3.693.932

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. BLOHM COMPRESSIBLE TUBE VALVE This invention relates to compressible tube valve means, and more particularly, for such means adapted to control fluent material of the type containing abrasives.

Conventional metal valves are not practical for pipes or lines which transmit abrasive material, which may include sand, cement particles, etc., since these abrasive materials wear out and jam the metal valve parts.

Prior compressible tube valves are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 653,629, granted July 10, 1900; 742,646, granted Oct. 27, 1903; and 2,660,395, granted Nov. 24, 1953.

The valves of the prior art are generally operated by a handle located on the side of the compressible tubing which is likely to rupture.

When the line is a high pressure line, and the compressible tube ruptures, there is generally a blast of the abrasive material which is dangerous to the operator.

In the present invention, the handle is mounted on a box which protects the operator from any blast of abrasive material if the valve tubing breaks. One side of the box is open so that the force of the explosion or blast will be safely directed away from the operator.

The present valve is also an improvement over prior art in that when the valve is in closed position, the roller lever is set past dead center in a position so that the valve is held closed by the pressure source in the line. This eliminates accidental opening of the line due to someone hitting the handle or due to vibration of the apparatus.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved compressible tube valve means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved compressible tube valve means wherein the operating handle is mounted on the opposite side of the valve from the tubing, which is stretched during the compression.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved compressible tube valve means for abrasive material under pressure, wherein the operating handle is located in an area protected from any blast caused by rupture of the tubing as it is stretched.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved valve means for fluent material comprising a safety shield member having one open side, a compressible tube mounted in said member, an arm mounted on said member and extending from said open side, a roller rotatably mounted on said arm, a handle connected to said arm, said handle extending outwardly from the side of said member opposite said open side, whereby said roller is adapted to squeeze said tube to close said tube and said box-like structure protects the operator from failure of said tubing.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one use of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention generally comprises a box-like member I having an open side 2. A pair of metal pipe extensions 3 and 4 are fixedly connected to the box 1, for instance, by welding. A flexible tubing 5 extends through the pipe 3, box I, and pipe 4.

A squeezing roller 6 is mounted on a-U shaped arm 7 which is pivotally mounted on the box 1 adjacent the open side thereof. A handle 6 is fixedly connected to the arm 7 and mounted on the same axis as arm 7 for the purpose of rotating the arm 7 so as to cause the roller to squeeze the tubing 5 and close the valve.

FIG. 1 shows the roller 5 squeezing the tube 5 closed. When it is desired to open the valve, the handle 8 is rotated in clockwise direction, FIG. 1. Note that in closed position, the arm '7 and roller 6 are past dead center so that pressure P in the lower portion of the valve in tube 5 will press against the roller and tend to keep the valve closed. The purpose of this is so that the valve will not be accidentally opened by someone hitting the handle, or by vibration of the apparatus. Vibration is a problem, since the valve is liable to be connected adjacent compressors or other equipment which cause heavy vibrations.

The part of the tubing 5 which is likely to rupture is at the areas of 5' and 5" where the tubing is stretched when the valve is closed. Ruptures of this tubing are quite common due to the abrasive material used and also due to the fact that tubing is stretched at one place. The most likely place for the tube 5 to rupture is in the area of 5' on the pressure side of the valve. TI-Ie box has an open side 2 which is on the side away from the handle 8, which is operated by the operator. Therefore, if the tubing 5 ruptures, the blast of fluent material such as sand, etc. will go out the open side of the box away from the operator, and there is no danger of the box 1 exploding.

The lower section of pipe 3 has a clamp 9 adapted to clamp the lower end of the tube 5 in place. The lower end of the pipe 3 may have threads 10 for connecting it to other apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the valve of the present invention connected as an exhaust valve in a gunnite type cement gun II. In this apparatus, the cement and sand are inserted through the hopper 12. The chamber 11 is then placed under pressure and the abrasive mixture shot out of a hose, which is not shown. After the pressure has been turned off, the purpose of the valve in FIG. 3 is to exhaust the pressure in the chamber II to atmosphere so that its cover can be opened.

Therefore, when the cement gun is operating, there is a considerable amount of pressure against the valve, of the order of lbs. per square inch, so that a rupture of the tubing caused by wear and stretching of the tubing and the pressure would cause a dangerous blast of sand and cement, which would be injurious to any operator who was not protected by the protective safety shield of the present invention Iclaim:

1. Valve means for fluent material comprising:

a safety shield enclosure member having only one open side,

a compressible fluid conveying tube mounted in said member,

an arm pivotally mounted on said member and extending through said open side,

a roller rotatably mounted on said arm,

a handle connected to said arm, said handle extending outwardly from said member with a handle portion disposed on the side of said tube opposite said arm when in closed position so that fluid pressure in said tube pressing on the roller will hold said valve closed, whereby it cannot be accidentally opened. 

1. Valve means for fluent material comprising: a safety shield enclosure member having only one open side, a compressible fluid conveying tube mounted in said member, an arm pivotally mounted on said member and extending through said open side, a roller rotatably mounted on said arm, a handle connected to said arm, said handle extending outwardly from said member with a handle portion disposed on the side of said tube opposite said open side, whereby said roller is adapted to squeeze said tube to close the fluid passage through said tube and said enclosure member protects the operator from failure of said tube, said roller arm and roller being mounted to position said arm when in closed position so that fluid pressure in said tube pressing on the roller will hold said valve closed, whereby it cannot be accidentally opened. 